Firefighters were called to the 1400 block of 24th Street shortly after 3 p.m.

Officials say about a dozen people including a child was inside but all were able to safely escape.

“Currently all but one gentleman states that he has a place to stay but no injuries. No loss of life and all pets and people were recovered,” Brian O’Keefe with the Des Moines Fire Department said.

No loss of life, but some things are difficult to replace.

“Everything just burnt up – all my clothes, all my kids’ pictures,” resident Victor Nelson said. “I went into the kitchen to get a drink of water and the stove, the walls and the ceiling was engulfed in flames. It happened in a matter of seconds.”

“I lost everything,” the 53-year-old said.

Nelson added his mother’s ashes were also lost in the fire.

Adum Wodede and his family moved here from Ethiopia seven years ago. Everything they have worked for went up in flames.

“Most of our stuff, they’re in there like Social Security and green card. A lot of stuff is in there, our clothes, everything’s in there and that’s what I’m worried about,” Wodede said.